HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18340, 17 December 1927, Page 4

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. Animals’ Tears. Animals are so beset by enemies, adverse conditions, and parasitic and other diseases, that they nearly always fail to live out their natural term of life. According to accredited data, the following figures may be regarded as reliable: The elephant, 150 200 years: the falcon, 162; vulture, 118; golden eagle, 104; swan. 102; goose, cider duck, raven, parrot, tortoise (especially the giant tortoise), 200 300. The carp and pike may reach 150 years: the horse, ass, dromedary and bear, 40 to 50. Among birds, the crane has a life expectation of 40-50 years; the heron. 60; the owl, 6S; the dove, ostrich and woodpecker, 60-70. The probable life of the hippotamus is 40; the sheep, 10-13; goat, 12-15; stag, 30; roebuck. 15; reindeer, 16: elk, 20; wild pig, 20-30; dog and wolf, 10-15; fox, 10; lion, 20 25; tiger, 20; cat, 9-10: beaver, 20-25: squirrel, 10 12; hare, 7-8; guinea pig. 37; rat. 3; mouse, 34; domestic fowls. 15-20; magpie, 25; blackbird. IS; canary, up to 24; salamander, 10-12; treefrog. 10; fresh water eel, 10-12. The fresh water pearl-mussel may live to 60 or 70 years, and fresh water crabs and leeches over 20. The angleworm lives 10 years, if not employed for bait. Insects and spiders have shert lives, but some kinds of ants live in captivity for 10 to 15 years. The Weight of Milk. Milk is a deceptive article so far as weight is concerned. In a herd of fifty cows samples of milk can be taken from individual animals that show extraordinary variations when placed upon the scales. The milk from one cow will weigh two pounds to one and a half quarts, while another produces milk which weighs 21b to one and a half pints. It does not seem to make much difference what the breed is or how much milk they produce. The milk is a little higher in summer than in winter. It is hardly possible to find a dozen cows whose milk will weigh alike, but when mixed, if there are not too many in the lot that give verv heavy milk, it will weigh two pound* to a good full quart, every time. Gardening in London. A garden competition held by the London Evening Standard out 12,000 competitors, each with a flower garden at home. Gardening interest has reached the peak of popularity ia London. Clerks and office worker* now speed home from work to put A few touches on the garden. The Eaters of Moat. Argentina and Australia are the largest meat-eating countries, with a yearly average per inhabitant of 2501 b, and 2201 b respectively. Britain consume* 1201 b of meat per inhabitant a year, while, the figures for Germany and France are respectively 1021 b and 9S'b. Before the war Ital- consumed only 301 b of meat for each inhabitant. Her consumption is now about 401 b per inhabitant. *; j.; j.j A Marvellous Building. A combination of features believed never to have l>een included in anv single building in the world is shown in the plans of the new T7.000.00n Fish er Building, latest of Detroit's Urge business structures. The plans include a 1000 car garage, a 3000-reat theatre of the most modern type, one wing r. f 11 floors devoted exclusively to professional offices, and a full complement of stores and shops so varied that it. will l*c unnecessary to leave the building for ordinary shopping pur-